Destroying Fate

Chapter 8

I am so not in the mood for a party. Especially when we are celebrating the thing that most likely will be the death of Damon and I, or close to it. Gabi called me and stated that she would be over soon to ‘pretty me up’, as she put it.

The knock on my bedroom door reminds me of my impending doom. Not the whole, I might be dead tomorrow along with my boyfriend, but the whole, I’m going to be stuffed into one of Gabi’s tight dresses. Not that I don’t like wearing dresses, but I would like to have the chance to breath.

“I brought six because I wasn’t sure what I wanted to put you in.” She says as she pushes open my door. And surely enough, she has the dresses hung over her arms.

“Do I have to?” I whine.

“Yes you have to! Are you crazy?” She says matter-of-factly. “Now, I know you love purple, but I thought the black would look good on you. Or the pink! But you have to try on the black one first. Where is your curling iron? I could get my emergency iron from my car, but I like yours better.”

“It’s on the left side of my dresser, second from the top.” I say, pointing at the dresser.

“Fabulous!” She throws the black dress towards me and pushed me to the door.

I walk to the bathroom at the end of the hall, clutching the dress. I can feel my pulse rising, and my palms are sweaty with every step. Ever since I blacked out in the bathroom, or whatever it was that happened, I haven’t been able to use this bathroom. Using the one downstairs would make Gabi suspicious. Not that I don’t trust her, I just don’t want her to think I’m a total wacko.

I know this shouldn’t be such a horrifying event, but reaching my hand up towards the doorknob proves to be a challenge. Sucking in a final deep breath, I push open the door. A gust of coldness sweeps through me as if the icy feeling never left the room. I lean onto the counter for support. Knowing that if I take a long time, Gabi will come ask me what’s going on, I undress as quickly as I am capable of. Plus, getting out of this bathroom will make me feel safer.

Once I have the dress on, I’m almost afraid to look at myself through this mirror, as if demons will be drifting through the air around me. I peer through my eyelids just enough to see if there is anything around me. I stumble back when I think I see a shadowy figure beside me. Paranoid much? I blink several times before I come to terms that my overactive imagination is playing tricks on me.

As arrogant as it sounds, the dress does look astoundingly well on me. The silky fabric softly clings to my curves. It isn’t too flashy, which I appreciate very much. It only has a few sparkles outlining, and drifting down a little, around the sweetheart neckline of the dress.

Happy to leave the bathroom, I swoop up my clothes, and practically run back to my room.

I can’t bring myself to abandon my smile, and I open the door to a flash going off in my face while Gabi says, “Cheese!”

“Ow, thanks for burning my eyeballs out.” I say. “I would’ve held still for you to take my picture instead of you catching me off guard.”

Ignoring my comment she says, “It looks great, I knew it would. Happy birthday, this is for you.”

“I told you no presents.” I say with a grin. She always gets me something so simple, and yet so wonderful. Even with me telling her that I don’t want anything, every year. She knows I honestly do love everything she has ever bought me. So she keeps getting me something, which always downgrades the presents I buy for her.

She waits, with her smile just as bright, until I give in and take the present from her. Even the little crimson red box is adorable, with a cute silver bow on top. I take the bow off, and lift the top of the box off.